{"id":1210,"date":"2019-02-14T12:59:34","date_gmt":"2019-02-14T17:59:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/read.whitefire-publishing.com\/?p=1210"},"modified":"2020-06-01T09:07:17","modified_gmt":"2020-06-01T13:07:17","slug":"catching-up-with-daylight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/whitefire-publishing.com\/read\/catching-up-with-daylight\/","title":{"rendered":"Catching Up with Daylight: A Journey to Wholeness"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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by Gail Kittleson<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many of us long for rest, as the author did while renovating an old house after her husband\u2019s first deployment to Iraq. Yet a different hunger undergirded that desire: a hunger for wholeness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No fast track exists to a closer walk with God, but the ancient Benedictine practice of Lectio Divina enhances and extends our times with our Creator. Allowing the Spirit to emphasize one word and ruminating on that word throughout the day empowers us to remain present for every moment, attentive to embrace all that God has for us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you take this journey with the author, you will become aware of those who have paved our way, and of those around us who need fresh courage. And you may even waken early one morning to discover the moon painted with a fresh hue.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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August<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t

In\n2004, my Army chaplain husband Lance and I started life afresh after his\nfourteen-month deployment to Iraq. We had no idea the house we moved into was\nso hungry, and we thought we had plenty of time to rewire and refurbish the\nplumbing, replace old flooring, take out a couple of small walls, clean out\ngrimy items left in closets and on shelves, and repaint before starting our\njobs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\nfailed to take into account the loneliness of this 125-year-old abode. Her\nparched bones slurped up coats and coats of primer and paint, her floorboards\nsoaked in stain, oil, and varnish, yet cried out for more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Getting\nthe feel of a house takes time, first of all, to find one\u2019s way. More time is\nrequired to sense the work of light as walls come down. The space brightens,\nopening her lungs to breathe deeply after years of being closed to the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our\nsociety takes an elementary concept for granted\u2014houses exist for people.\nSeveral families have lived in our house, most of them members of the original\nfamily<\/a> who built it in 1873. Seven brothers and sisters grew up here, in\nprobably a third of our space. A quick tour reveals idiosyncrasies that could\nonly come from several additions over the years. In one case an entire staircase\nfound a new home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

My\nhusband\u2019s small family never wanted for individual space, and although two\nparents and five children lived in my childhood home, our farmhouse boasted\nrooms galore. Human space perception differs culturally, tied to our families\nof origin and the communal norm. The physical area we own in this world extends\ninto our yards or lack of them, and into our community\u2014our town, our city, our\ncountry mile. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\nfirst morning after moving in, even with piles of boxes gaping at me, I went\nfor a walk to explore this little town. Early morning mist sharpened my observation\npowers. Alleys invited me\u2014I choose alley-walking whenever possible. Dirt or\ngravel back ways offer more interesting sights and surfaces easier on one\u2019s\nfeet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For\na town of 1,200, this neighborhood boasts an abundance of lovely old houses\nwith towering roofs. Not a sound reaches my ears. Even birds still sleep this\nmorning, so it\u2019s just the houses and me. In an hour or so, people sounds will\nfill the air, the sun\u2019s warmth will dissipate the heavy atmospheric moisture\nlayer, and our town\u2019s day will officially begin. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But\nfor now, it\u2019s the quiet alleys and me: I attend to silent messages coming my\nway.<\/p>\n\n\n